Google ChromeCast Jailbreak

A few months ago, Google announced the ChromeCast. It’s actually streaming dongle that allows you to watch internet content on your HDTV. The response was a little mixed; some were interested in the cross-platform device while others said that it did nothing more than Apple TV and Airplay could do. For those stuck in the middle, there is now a reason to get just a little bit excited.

Image : Google ChromeCast Jailbreak

As with most new devices that come up, Google Chromecast has been Rooted (Jailbroken). There’s a YouTube video out showing it being done and used although it has been confirmed that it has only been hacked into just far enough to see that it doesn’t run on Chrome. Rather it runs on a modified version of Google TV OS, which is a version of Android that has been modified. Android is an open source OS and Google are not too hot on closing theirs down either making it relatively easy to get into.

Google ChromeCast costs just $35 and is for any platform as well as using Chrome browser. It simply plugs into the HDMI slot on your TV and can stream content from any device direct to your screen. It has Wi-Fi built-in opening up the home entertainment possibilities even more.

While people may say Apple TV does the same thing, there is the question of cost. Both Apple TV and Roku use set-top boxes and cost in the region of $100 to buy. Admittedly there is more content available in both of these but, now that ChromeCast has been rooted, that could be about to change.

Image : ChromeCast Rooted by Team Eureka

It is true that Google was as fast in updating the firmware of the ChromeCast to void the jailbreak, but the Team Eureka [ext link] developers discovered a new exploit which allowed users to jailbreak their ChromeCast even though it may be running any firmware version. This method installs the custom ROM of Eureka while rooting it and thus allows for customizations and tweaks, like changing DNS address to access region-locked content.

Video : Jailbroken ChromeCast Video here:

If you want to have a go at rooting Chromecast yourself, follow the below-given tutorial. This is something you do at your own risk though and remember that if anything goes wrong, then you may end up bricking your device forever.

How to Root – Jailbreak Chromecast :

Things You Need :

Google Chromecast

A blank USB flash drive which should be at least 128 MB large. Please note that it will be erased.

Plug in your USB flash drive to the female A port of the USB OTG cable.

Now connect the other end in the Chromecast.

While you plug-in the power cord, press down and hold the button given on the Chromecast.

Keep watching the screen and the blinking light of your flash drive (if any). Chromecast will boot up and will start executing the unsigned kernel, kicking off to a script which will replace /system with a jailbroken/rooted one. The /data will be wiped and the Chromecast will reboot back normally. The process takes about a minute, so wait patiently and do not unplug anything while the installation is going on.

After the process has completed, the box will restart and a new splash screen will come up followed by the setup screen. You just have to set up your Chromecast again from scratch and you can easily telnet to get a root shell on the Chromecast on port 23.